ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee on Wednesday recommended that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) allow private housing schemes in sub-zone C of Zone-IV, where a large number of unauthorised societieshave alreadybeen established.

With Senator Kalsoom Parveen in the chair, a subcommittee of the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat discussed the various issues relating to housing schemes.

The subcommittee, which was tasked with reviewing the changes made by the federal government in the past, mostly focused on discussing illegal housing schemes in sub-zone C of Zone-IV, where several housing schemes, including Bahria Enclave, are operating illegally.

According to CDA rules, only government run housing schemes can operate in sub-zone C of Zone -IV.

According to an official of the CDA, the civic agency has very little land in sub-zone C and that most of the land belongs to locals but there are no provisions for private housing schemes in the said sub-zone.

During the meeting on Wednesday, CDA officials informed the committee that they have tal(en up the issue with the federal government several times and asked that private housing societies also be allowed in sub-zone C.

They said that last year, a summary was also moved to the Capital Administration and Development Division for onward submission to the cabinet but there has not been any progress so far.

The committee directed CDA officials to pursue the summary for getting approval from the Cabinet and to end `discrimination` against private housing societies where Senator Parveen said a large number of people have already constructed houses and who the CDA is not allowing utility connections to.

The convenor of the committee recommended that CDA regularise the housing schemes which fulfil the civic agency`s criteria and to not create hurdles for people.

Members of the committee also expressed displeasure over the large number of housing schemes in Zone-IV where thousands of people have constructed houses and that CDA has now, all of a sudden, come into action and requested the Islamabad Electric Supply Company and the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines to not give them connections.

The committee criticised CDA performance and for not taking action when the operators of these unauthorised societies were selling plots to citizens.

CDA`s Director Master Plan, Zafar Iqbal Zafar also briefed the committee about the changes made to the master plan over time.